Application to the Master of Arts in Environmental Studies program is now open for admission in Fall 2008. There will be four concentrations within the program: coastal management, environmental education and interpretation, environmental management, and an individualized study concentration. The latter is a curriculum that is designed in conjunction with a faculty mentor for those students whose specific area of interest is outside the scope of the former three concentrations. The total program will involve 33 credit hours of graduate coursework. A preliminary copy of the catalog description of the program can be found here. Deadline for application for Fall 2008 admittance is April 15, 2008.

You can apply on-line at:

https://app.applyyourself.com/?id=uncw-grad

The materials you will need to apply are:

1. An application for graduate admission
2. Official transcripts of all prior university or college work (undergraduate and graduate)
3. Official scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) less than five years old
4. Three recommendations by individuals in professionally relevant fields
5. A personal statement describing educational and professional experiences, reasons for pursuing graduate study in environmental studies and career goals
6. Additional materials that the applicant believes reflect his/her potential for success within the program

Minimal requirements for unconditional admittance into the program include:

1. Successful completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college, or its equivalent (due to the diversity of areas of emphasis within the proposed program, it is not required that the successful applicant possess a degree in Environmental Studies)
2. Strong academic performance in an undergraduate curriculum indicated by a minimum of a GPA of 3.0 or higher, or its equivalent
3. Indication of graduate academic potential reflected by satisfactory performance on the Graduate Record Examination
4. Indication of graduate academic potential reflected by three letters of recommendation from individuals in professionally relevant fields
5. Concurrency of personal goals with the focus of the environmental studies graduate curriculum

Acceptance into the program will be competitive, as we intend to accept only 15 students (approximately) the first year. This small number of students will help us to ensure that we can provide a quality program involving a low faculty-student ratio.

A limited number of funded teaching assistant positions will be available. If you have an interest in being a teaching assistant, please be sure to note this on your application.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Dr. Jeffery Hill, Graduate Program Coordinator (910.962.3264 or hillj@uncw.edu). If you have specific questions regarding graduate school at UNCW, the Graduate School website offers a wealth of information, or you may contact Kimberly Goerne at the Graduate School (goernek@uncw.edu; 910.962.7449).

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